Utilities

Infrastructure Summary

Electric and Gas

With utility rates among the lowest in the country, Metro New Mexico offers your company another business savings:

  • Electricity and natural gas
    • A majority of the metro area’s electricity is provided by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), one of the most reliable power providers in the country. Electric rates in New Mexico are lower that those in surrounding and competitive states.

Water: Drought-Resistant Industry

The Metro New Mexico region is primarily high desert, with an average rainfall of 9-14 inches/year. Our communities are learning to manage their water resources to ensure a supply for future generations while meeting water compact obligations. These goals will be achieved through a combination of active conservation efforts, a search for new sources, technological progress in water reclamation and re-use, and an active market in unused water rights. While water-intensive industries never make sense in a desert, almost all industries will find a more than adequate supply of water to meet their needs.

  • Water
    Each community in the metro area handles its own water and sewer services. Rio Rancho, 505-891-5002, provides water from an underground aquifer.

Solid Waste

Waste Management Corporation (NYSE: WMI) provides solid waste services to all of Rio Rancho.

Telecommunications

New Mexico currently has two area codes (505) and (575) and a more-than-capable telecommunications network. The entire metro, including Rio Rancho, area has a (505) designation. The (575) area code is dedicated to rural New Mexico.  Qwest Communications provides telecommunication services to all of Rio Rancho.  The City also offers cable and digital television, as well as broadband and wireless Internet access.

  • Central NM Electric Cooperative is organized as a non-profit, consumer owned cooperative and is headquartered in Mountainair, NM, with another office in Moriarity. CNMEC serves customers in parts of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Valencia and Torrance counties, including the Estancia Valley. The company owns 4,156 miles of transmission lines and has invested $59.5 million to serve its members.
  • New Mexico Gas Company is providing natural gas services to a majority of the region.